Bill seeks increase in officers, but funding limited

By Rebecca Clark

Published: Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 12:07 AM.

The original Cops in Schools grant program, which not been funded since 2005, according to a release from Meadows' office, was specifically designed to assist local law enforcement agencies in the hiring of new officers.

The $30 million to pay for the grant program would be offset by taking unspent funds from the operations budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Dr. Bruce Boyles, superintendent of Cleveland County Schools, said the school system works in consultation with the hheriff's office on security.

"All officers serving as school resource officers are paid for by the school system," he said. "If there is an opportunity to expand that, we'd be interested in that."

Boyles said at this point, there has not been any conversations on the topic.

With the $30 million spread across the country, Boyles said it would not have a major impact on schools.

He said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system alone has locally requested $33 million for school safety.

On a December morning last year, an armed man entered a Newtown, Conn., elementary school and opened fire, killing more than two dozen children and staff.

In the wake of the massacre, and subsequent shootings at college campuses, school safety across the nation has been thrust in the limelight.

Law enforcement officers and local, state and national levels have discussed plans to implement added security measures for schools.

Parents have advocated for everything from armed and trained teachers to stationing military personnel on campuses.

Beginning this year, a local schools safety task force was created, involving school staff, law enforcement officers, emergency management and members of the public. The group is tasked with finding ways to improve the safety of Cleveland County schools.

In the latest attempt to increase safety, a bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. (R) Mark Meadows (N.C.- 11).

About a dozen North Carolina sheriffs and police chiefs gathered in Hendersonville last week in a show of support for the bill, known as Protect America's Schools Act of 2013.

Meadows said the bill was created in direct response to the Newtown school shooting.

As school safety becomes a top priority across the nation, local officials hope the bill will lead to more officers in Cleveland County Schools.

“The recent school massacre in Newtown, Conn., sent shock waves across the country,” Meadows said in a statement. “As a father, I grieved with the families who lost a loved one that day. And as a legislator, I vowed that I would take action to prevent future tragedies."

Meadows said, according to a recent Gallup poll, 53 percent of Americans believe that increasing police presence at schools would be very effective in preventing future tragedies.

“The Protect America’s Schools Act is a bipartisan, solutions-oriented approach to addressing school shootings that should transcend party lines," he said. "It is not the only answer, but it is a critical step forward to protect our nation’s children."

If the bill becomes law, it would revitalize the Clinton-era Cops in Schools grant program.

'A step in the right direction'

Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said he attended the press conference on Feb. 20 in a show of support for the bill which would supply $30 million in unspent federal funds for national use.

"If the bill is successful in passing, then each municipality would apply, probably through Department of Justice, for issuance of unclaimed federal dollars, that would in turn supply school resource officers," said Norman.

He said it would be up to the individual law enforcement agency to apply for funds, and in the case of the sheriff's office, it would have to be approved by county commissioners and the county manager.

Each agency, from Boiling Springs Police to Kings Mountain, would apply for schools in its jurisdiction.

"The sheriff's office is definitely interested in seeking out school resource officers," Norman said. "We definitely would apply."

Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said the department is waiting to first see if the bill passes before making any decisions.

"If it does then we'll sit down and look at the schools we've got and what we would need covered beyond what we have now," Ledford said. "We'll need to find out what the bill covers, if it's a 100 percent match or partial funding."

He said often a bill changes as it goes through the legislative process.

"It's an interesting bill, but we want to see what it is and what that final draft looks like," he said.

Norman said there is no guarantee the requested amount would be awarded.

"For example, you may apply for six (positions) and be awarded three," Norman said.

The maximum eligibility for the grant is three years, according to Meadows' office.

Norman said, after three years, it would be a downward departure where federal money would taper off, and eventually it would be paid for by the local municipality if it chose to retain those officers.

"I think its a step in the right direction," he said.

'It's definitely based on need'

Norman said Cleveland County is unique because there is already a school resource officer in every high and middle school.

He said if the bill becomes law and the county applies for and receives funding, the county would aim to add officers in elementary schools.

Norman said funds are allocated on various criteria, including the number of arrests and suspensions in the school system.

"It's definitely based on need," he said.

The original Cops in Schools grant program, which not been funded since 2005, according to a release from Meadows' office, was specifically designed to assist local law enforcement agencies in the hiring of new officers.

The $30 million to pay for the grant program would be offset by taking unspent funds from the operations budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Dr. Bruce Boyles, superintendent of Cleveland County Schools, said the school system works in consultation with the hheriff's office on security.

"All officers serving as school resource officers are paid for by the school system," he said. "If there is an opportunity to expand that, we'd be interested in that."

Boyles said at this point, there has not been any conversations on the topic.

With the $30 million spread across the country, Boyles said it would not have a major impact on schools.

He said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system alone has locally requested $33 million for school safety.

"That would hire about 600 school resource officers," Boyles said of the $30 million.

The Cleveland County Schools system currently spends about a half million on officers.

"...But certainly if there's an opportunity to get even one more school resource officer, we would welcome that," Boyles said.

Each middle and high school in the county has an officer, he said, except for the Cleveland Early College High School, which is located on the campus of Cleveland Community College and has access to campus security.

Reach reporter Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344 or rclark@shelbystar.com or follow on Twitter @TheStarRebecca.